"Do
you really want to make the change? We often
resolve to change something that we truly have no
intention of changing. This can serve to be
counterproductive and provide us a sense of
failure. It is important to consider what we need
to do to change and evaluate how we will do
it."

1.
When
we resolve to change, it needs to come with a
strategy to change. Simply saying you want to do
something does not fuel the change. Consider the
strategy and outline the process of change that is
simple and realistic.

2.
Keep
resolutions to a minimum. Attempting to stop or
start multiple things may serve to overwhelm you
and prevent you from doing any of them. It makes
good sense to keep change simple and to tackle one
major change at a time. Having multiple
resolutions may be too much for the brain to
process and may make change difficult."

3.
Develop accountability
partners. Lock in someone who will supports your
change. For example, if your goal is to exercise,
you might want to hire a trainer. A study atMcMasterUniversity
found that people who are new to an exercise
activity perform better when their goals are set
by a fitness professional rather than by
themselves.

4.
Appreciate
the changes you are attempting and reward yourself
throughout the process. If you are keeping goals
simple, you can appreciate exercising more or
better eating.

5.
Studies
show stress can kill you, so attend to it. Many
resolutions center around things we do to help us
cope with stress, such as smoking, drinking or
overeating. When we change the behaviors, we need
a new plan to manage stress.

The
process of thinking about change is critical to
developing actual change. It is a process that is
helpful no matter what time of year.

A
study published in the Journal of Consumer
Research in 2006 supports that notion. Researchers
found that when people predict that they will do a
socially good deed, such as recycling, the chances
of them actually doing the good deed increases.

A
clear benefit of the self-prophecy technique is
its simplicity: a question followed by a simple
'yes' or 'no' elicits behavioral
change.

Borrowed
from:

http://www.livescience.com/health/081231-new-years-resolution.html

TIPS
TO KEEP A POSITIVE
MINDSET

We’ve
been providing a lot of peer mentoring for
Consumers who have been overwhelmed by grief and
are having pessimistic thoughts plague their
lives. Thus, we compiled the following list of
tips to help them cope with the adversity they
face.

The
power of positivethinking
is immense, the value of a positive mental attitude is
priceless. It is a value everyone must have. It is
the prelude to success,
within and without.

To
cultivate a habit of positive thinking with chains
of less than perfect habits and thinking that we have picked
up in the course of our lives, is an art that has
to be acquired. Here are
10 tips for positive
thinking and practical
steps that enable positivethinkingto be indelibly part of your
life, that will leave living richer fuller and
happier.

1.
Learn. Read. Listen. Daily. To inspiring thoughts,
audios, movies, battles conquered, adventures
encountered, obstacles overcome. There are
people who have distilled blood, sweat and tears
of wisdom into books, tapes and courses.
It is said that you become what you think
about all day. Learn from and model. Associate
yourself with people who think positively.

2.
Optimism. Psychologist Martin Seligman mentions
that those who are optimistic do not think like
pessimists who tend to see problems as permanent,
pervasive and personal. Rather than saying " I'm
doomed", "Everything's finished." "I'm no
good" Optimists see a way out, they confine the
problem and do not take it personally. They do not
indulge in catastrophic thinking. The glass if
half full. There will be better days. Belief and
hope is half the battle won.

3.
Gratitude – whatever happens, there are worse
situations. if you are breathing, be glad to be
alive. If you have lost all possessions, be glad
you have something to wear. There is always
something to be grateful for. Gratitude unlocks
beauty, calms and expands the mind. Gratitude
gives joy. And has benefits beyond what you can
see- physiological, mental,
psychological, spiritual, and even
social. Be grateful. And blessed.

4.
Taking responsibility instead of blame. You will
be able to take locus and control of your life
again. The storms may rage around you. but you are
responsible for getting out of it. You will swim
out no matter what . you don't wait for the rain
to stop before you move. You don't wait for the
other person to react before you make the first
move.

5. Not
allowing negative emotions to overwhelm you. You
may have been beaten sore. But there is still
breath in you enough to fight another day. The
world may have been unfair, but you are only going
to cry in your closet for only a little while. It
may be a blessings in disguise. Every experience
learned will lead more wisdom in the next, Every
adversity has the seed of a greater benefit. You
will be surprised sometimes things that seem
adversities turn out to be opportunities in
disguise

6.
Persistence. Push. Beyond The Dip. Seth Godin
explains that most people do not achieve what they
want is because they give up before they cross The
Dip. What is The Dip? It is the 10th job interview
where they never even fall you back. It is the
100th time you fall on your butt while learning to
snowboard. It is any rough patch you have to get
through before achieving your big goal. Success is
only a step away. Or maybe a few more steps. Never
give up. Don't quit. Ask. And you will
receive.

7.
Believe- even if everything tells you
otherwise. In your gut feeling. That there can be
miracles. That things can be changed. Expectancy.
Belief in yourself. In better days. In hope. In
goodness. Trust in God to take you through.

8.
Seek divine guidance. When you are overwhelmed.
When bad things happen to good people like
yourself. When you are stuck and find no way out.
Or even before the start of an ordinary day. Og
Mandino, in his book The Greatest Salesman in the
World mentions: " I will pray.. in this manner: Oh
Creator of all things, help me….for this day I go
out into the world naked and alone, and
without your hand to guide me, I will wander
far from the path that leads to success and
happiness. .… teach me how to hunt with words and
prosper with love… Discipline me in the habit of
trying and trying again.. bathe me in good habits
that the bad ones may drown; yet grant me
compassion for weaknesses in other. Suffer me to
know that all things shall pass; yet help me count
my blessings of today. Let me become all you
planned for me when my seed was planted and
selected by you to sprout in the vineyard of the
world…"

8.
Keep the big picture in mind. Distractions,
pettiness, they can irritate you for the moment.
Never lose sight of what you are here for and keep
your eyes on your vision and goal. You can revise
them now and again if you find it is not really.
And if you really When you steer a ship, you
look at a far point, not the waves in front of
you. Search within. Follow your compass and stick
to it.

9.Accepting
your lot when you have to, while sticking to your
dreams of better things to come. Adapting while
being content in the midst of situations. Remember
the serenity prayer- teach me to accept things
that cannot be changed and change what you can,
and knowing how to distinguish the two. There is a
time for everything, and perhaps it is the time to
wait and be patient. A time to reflect, change.
Humility. Emptiness. Mourning. There is a time and
place for this. It is refreshing time, an
important time. Treasure it.

10.
Bringing joy and hope in the lives of others.
Adding value. Touching lives. After all, dreams
for yourself, and self glory end in hollow
emptiness at the end. The most meaningful moments
are those when lives are touched, legacy left,
personal battles won. We exist for each other.
Meaningful moments often involve people- touching
people, touching lives.

In
short, positive thinking is more than looking at
the bright side.

It is
an entire lifestyle of thinking rightly, which
will leave you more fulfilled, happy and satisfied
than ever before.

HAPPY
NEW 2010 EVERYONE:

We
want to wish everyone a great 2010!!! We hope that
everyone had a great Christmas holiday, filled
with joy and happiness. Here at the AbilityCenter we’re excited
about 2010 as we have many projects that will
enhance the quality of life of persons with
disabilities in southwestern New
Mexico. From free sign
language classes to business computer training,
our additional services will improve considerably
the abilities of our Consumers and in turn, our
communities. For this month’s edition of our
newsletter, we’re going to focus
on:

·Our
monthly activities.

·The
grant awarded to us by The McCune Charitable
Foundation.

·5 Tips
to Keep Your New Year’s
Resolution(s)

·Tips
to keep a positive mindset

·Listing
of our community partners

RECAP
OF THE MONTH:

·Our
Independent Living Program continues doing well.
Our Food Bank will expand this approaching month,
so we’re excited about this growth. Our equipment
bank continues to provide an invaluable service
for individuals in need of mobility equipment and
medical supplies. Our Outreach activities into
LunaCounty will
intensify next month. Our sign language classes
will begin next month as well as our business
computer classes. Our mobile computer lab will be
up and running next month as we expand computer
classes into our catchment area outside of Las
Cruces. Simply put, it will be a busy year for our
Independent Living Program, but that is how we
like it.

·Our
Social Security Program continues doing well
providing money-management services to eligible
Consumers as well as teaching these same Consumers
basic budgeting skills.

·Our
TBI Program continues providing quality Life
Skills Coaching in collaboration with Sun Country
Case Management. We know that with the holiday
season over, things will intensify for this
program.

Grant
Award From The McCune Charitable
Foundation

The AbilityCenter
received a grant of $1,500 from the McCune
Charitable Foundation to provide Business Computer
Training to its Consumers to improve their
computer skills and ultimately, their
employability. We are
excited about this award and ensure we’ll
implement a quality project.

ANNIE'S
FRUIT SALSA AND CINNAMON CHIPS

As
Valentine’s Day is the next big holiday on our
calendar, we wanted to provide a recipe for you to
make for that special someone or for
yourself.

3.Coat
one side of each flour tortilla with butter
flavored cooking spray. Cut into wedges and
arrange in a single layer on a large baking sheet.
Sprinkle wedges with desired amount of cinnamon
sugar. Spray again with cooking spray.

4.Bake
in the preheated oven 8 to 10 minutes. Repeat with
any remaining tortilla wedges. Allow to cool
approximately 15 minutes. Serve with chilled fruit
mixture.

THANK
YOU TO ALL OUR
COLLABORATORS

The
AbilityCenter wants
to take the time to thank the following
individuals and (or) organizations for the great
contributions they have made to the Center helping
to fulfill our mission:

·Aging
and Long Term Services: Traumatic Brain Injury
Program

·Blas
Rel

·Brain
Injury Association of New Mexico

·Carl
C. Anderson Sr. & Marie Jo Anderson
Foundation

·Casa
De OroCareCenter

·Chris
Van Horn

·Christina
Little of the United Way of Southwestern New Mexico

·DemingLunaCounty
Commission on Aging

·Disability
Rights New
Mexico

·HidalgoCountySeniorCenter

·IndependentLivingResourceCenter of
Albuquerque

·MunsonCenter

·Our
Dedicated Board of Directors

·Our
Dedicated Staff

·Rehabilitation
Services Administration

·San
JuanCenter
for Independence

·Sandra
Williams

·Social
Security Administration

·The
CatronCounty
Health Council

·The
McCune Charitable Foundation

·The
New
Mexico Division of
Vocational Rehabilitation Area 3
Office

·The
New Mexico Governor’s Commission on
Disability

Most
importantly, our Consumers for having faith in us
and coming back to us for assistance to live a
high quality of life in their communities free of
exploitation and institutionalization.